Ghana National Identification Authority

Ghana National Identification Authority

 National Identification Authority

 It is mandated to register all Ghanaian and legally and permanently resident foreign nationals six years and above under the National Identification System (NIS), create a national database or register, issue them with National Identity Cards (Ghana-cards) and manage the use of the database.

The NIA was set up in 2003 under the Office of the President with the mandate to issue national ID cards and manage the National Identification System (NIS). This resulted in the passing of the National Identification Authority Act, 2006 (Act 707) to give it the necessary legal premises on which to operate. The National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750) was also passed to give authorization for collection of personal and bio metric data and to ensure the protection of privacy and personal information of enrolls/applicants.

 The Authority is mandated to establish a national data centre and manage a national database, set up a system to collect, process, store, retrieve and disseminate personal data on the population (Ghanaian citizens – both resident and non-resident, and legally and permanently resident foreign nationals), ensure the accuracy, integrity and security of such data, and to issue and promote the use of national identity cards in Ghana. It is also to make data in its custody available to persons or institutions authorized by law to access the data.

 

What Is The Purpose Of  The Ghana National Identification Authority

The NIA  provides numerous services and functions, below are  the services provided by the NIA:

  • National Identity Management 

 The National Identification Authority creates, maintains, provides and promotes the use of national identity cards in order to advance economic, political and social activities in the country as stated in our core mandate. We also issue national identity cards to citizens, and foreign nationals permanently resident in the country.

We have the technologies to serve the country as well as private institutions who needs our identity management solutions. We deploy the best AFIS systems with complete bio metric enrollment system and powerful identity management features. The modular nature and customizable workflow of our identity solutions makes it the perfect plan for any institution to implement the capturing and verification of bio metric data.

 

  • National Database Management

Managing national database has been our duty since our establishment. The national database contains a vast amount of sensitive and secure citizen and non-citizen data and our team at NIA ensures that our data operations uses the most secure protocols available. Our databases are backed up on daily basis to ensure citizen information are secure. While maintaining your database we provide:

  • Daily data back-ups
  • Monthly database updates including: Address Accuracy (AA) and National Change of Address (NCOA)
  • Optional refresh of existing database.

While database maintenance is the first step to ensuring national data is up-to-date we offer many other services to help not only maintain existing database, but also expanding it by obtaining beneficial insights to help the nation acquire new prospects. Each steps of the processes can be ran on its own as a separate module, however, integrating the entire modules together with national identity campaign gives the nation an overall benefits of the National Identification Authority’s database management solutions.

Data Profiling
  • Helps to paint a picture of what current data look like.
Data Analysis
  • Leveraging the key learning from profiling and database, analyze the data to help establish the next steps
National Analysis
  • Helps understand what the current or potential economy looks like
National Development Deployment
  • Using completed data analysis target the right type of developmental projects to embark on, to maximize the return on investment.
Post Data Analysis
  • Response analysis using the responder data.
Businesses Profiling
  • Analyze citizen data using the national information and NIA database (match and append).
Merge/Purge
  • Combine multiple files and eliminate duplicate names.

 

Quick Services 

 

To provide a complete value added integrated multi-sectoral and multipurpose National Identity System through the innovative use and application of information and communication technology to facilitate the social, economic and political development of Ghana, the National Identification Authority delivers immediate and needed services to serve the best interest of citizens and non-citizens, individuals and organizations. Some of our Quick services for individual and organizations include;

Services For Individuals

  • Registration
  • Renewal
  • Update
  • Replacement
  • Personal Information Verification

Services For Organizations

  • Expedited registration
  • Data sharing
  • Identity Verification via Online Validation
  • Signature Verification
  • Biometric Verification
  • Production of identity cards for institutions

NIA only shares data with institutions that meet the data sharing protocols per the Data Protection Act 2012 ( Act 843), National Identity Register Act, 2008 ( Act 750) and the National Identity Register Regulations 2012 (L. I. 2111).

 

Who Is Eligible To Be Registered Under The National Identification Authority In 2023

Every Ghanaian Citizen living within the country and abroad has the right to be in the National Identification System and citizens from age zero(0) are entitled to be issued with a national ID card, as required by the law, to provide added convenience and ease when conducting with public sector institutions, civil society organizations and private sector businesses.

The Authority may vary the application procedure and the period of registration in the case of disabled or incapacitated person or a Ghanaian citizen resident abroad. The applicant will have to appear in person before the registration officer at the registration center at the time specified by notice in the publications by the Authority.

 

 Ghana Card Registration Eligibility

  • All Ghanaians(living at home and abroad)
  • All persons that hold Ghanaian citizenship in addition to citizenship of any other foreign country( dual citizen)
  • Registration covers all persons aged 0 years and above

 

 

Other Information Required for Registration

Every applicant will be expected to provide among others the following:

  • Complete personal information on themselves
  • Residential address
  • The following information would also be required from those who have them ;
  1. Birth Certificate
  2. Passport
  3. Voter ID card
  4. Driving license
  5. SSNIT registration number

 

 Ghana Card Registration Requirements

INFORMATION NEEDED DURING THE MASS REGISTRATION INCLUDE:

APPLICANTS MUST APPEAR IN PERSON

Personal Information

Name, Date and Place of birth, Residential address and digital address code.

Information About Parents

Their names, Address dates and places of birth etc.

Biometrics

The fingerprints, iris and photograph would be taken and any other personal details that may be required

PARENTAL, SPOUSAL AND NEXT OF KIN INFORMATION

Name of spouse. Full name of of father. Father’s hometown/district/region
Father’s nationality. Full name of mother. Mother’s maiden name
Mother’s nationality. Mother’s hometown/district/region. Next of Kin
Address of next of Kin. Supplementary Spousal List for those with more than one spouse.

Primary Verification Documents

Individuals would be required to present any of the verification documents(i.e. Birth certificate, certificate of acquired citizenship or valid passport) to help validate the information provided.

Harmonization

Applicants with documents or I.D Cards of the following institutions must bring them along for hamonization of data with NIA – DVLA (LICENCE), NHIS, TAX (TIN), PASSPORT, EC (VOTER CARD)

 

First time applicants

  • An applicant has to appear in person
  • Original copy of Birth Certificate of the applicant
  • Or a valid Ghanaian Passport of the applicant
  • Digital Address of the applicant
  • Original copy of Naturalization Certificate

 

Ghana Card Registration Process

Key Registration Steps involves three main steps:

Step 1. A Registration Official will fill your personal information on an application form

Step 2.You will then hand over your form to a Mobile Registration workstation Operator who will enter your personal details into the computer.

Step 3.Your Photograph will be taken using a digital camera attached to the Mobile Registration workstation and your signature will be taken using an electronic signature pad.

After these steps you will be issued an ID Card Collection Slip/Receipt. You need this to collect your card when it is ready. This has to be kept well and protected.

 

REGISTRATION CHALLENGE WORKFLOW (NIA ACT 750, SECTIONS 22-27)

When an applicant is challenged by the R.O or through the R.O
    1. The R.O takes the applicant through the status verification form.

If applicant admits false declaration (YES)

    1. Discontinue the registrations process.

If the applicant does not admit false declaration (NO)

    1. Applicants fills form A,B1,&B2
    2. Completed forms are submitted to the DRRC for adjudication
    3. Decisions of the DRRC is communicated to the applicant

If applicant appeal decision (if NO)

    1. Decision of the DDRC is enforced

If applicant appeal decision (if YES)

    1. RRRO reviews decisions of the DRRC
    2. Decision of the RRRO is communicated to the applicant

If applicant appeal decision (if NO)

    1. Decision of the RRRO is enforced and ends there.

If applicant appeal decision (if YES)

  1. Courts of Appeal reviews decision of the RRRO
  2. Decision of the Court of Appeal is enforced and end there

 

NB: RO-Registration Officer, DRRC- District Registration Review Committee, RRRO- Regional Registration Review Officer

 

NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD REGISTRATION WORKFLOW (CENTRALISED PRINTING)

    1. Applicants provides documentation
    2. R.O interviews applicants and fills application

If Challenged (YES)

    1. Applicants goes through challenge process (refer to challenge process workflow)

If Challenged (NO)

    1. MRW operator captures biometric information (10 fingers ,iris,& portrait)
    2. MRW operators enters applicants biographic data and scans form and verification
    3. MRW operators captures applicants signature
    4. MRW operator prints receipts for applicant to confirm particulars
    5. MRW operators hands receipts and forms to applicants for card delivery.
    6. MRW operators transmits applicant’s data to the NIA Data Centre for card printing.
    7. Applicants data goes through online de-duplication

HIT (YES)

    1. Biometric Adjudication

HIT (NO)

    1. Card verification officer prints NID card
    2. Printed cards are sent to registration Centre for card delivery
    3. Verification /Delivery of NID card to the Applicant.

If at the Biometric Adjudication the HIT is YES

    1. Registration stops(further investigation)

IF at the Biometric Adjudication the HIT is NO

  1. Card verification officer prints NID card
  2. Printed cards are sent to registration Centre for card delivery
  3. Verification/Delivery of NID card to the Applicant.

 

NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD REGISTRATION WORKFLOW (INSTANT ISSUANCE)

    1. Applicants provides documentation
    2. R.O interviews applicants and fills application

If Challenged (YES)

    1. Applicants goes through challenge process (refer to challenge process workflow)

If Challenged (NO)

    1. MRW operator captures biometric information (10 fingers ,iris,& portrait)
    2. MRW operators enters applicants biographic data and scans form and verification
    3. MRW operators captures applicants signature
    4. MRW operator prints receipts for applicant to confirm details
    5. MRW operators hands receipts to applicants together with the forms.
    6. Applicants data goes through online de-duplication
    7. MRW operators checks results of the online de-duplication

HIT (NO)

    1. Card verification officer prints NID card
    2. Verification /Delivery of NID card to the Applicant together with application form.

HIT (YES)

    1. Biometric Adjudication

If at the Biometric Adjudication the HIT is YES

    1. Registration stops(further investigation)

IF at the Biometric Adjudication the HIT is NO

  1. Card verification officer prints NID card
  2. Verification/Delivery of NID card to the Applicant together with application forms.

 

NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD REGISTRATION WORKFLOW (DEFERRED PRINTING)

    1. Applicants provides documentation
    2. R.O interviews applicants and fills application

If Challenged (YES)

    1. Applicants goes through challenge process (refer to challenge process workflow)

If Challenged (NO)

    1. MRW operator captures biometric information (10 fingers ,iris,& portrait)
    2. MRW operators enters applicants biographic data and scans form and verification
    3. MRW operators captures applicants signature
    4. MRW operator prints receipts for applicant to confirm details
    5. MRW operators hands receipts to applicants together with the forms.
    6. MRW operators moves workstation to a networked area for card printing
    7. Applicants data goes through online de-duplication

HIT (YES)

    1. Biometric Adjudication

HIT (NO)

    1. Card verification officer prints NID card
    2. Printed cards are sent to registration Centre for card delivery
    3. Verification /Delivery of NID card to the Applicant.

If at the Biometric Adjudication the HIT is YES

    1. Registration stops(further investigation)

IF at the Biometric Adjudication the HIT is NO

  1. Card verification officer prints NID card
  2. Printed cards are sent to registration Centre for card delivery
  3. Verification/Delivery of NID card to the Applicant.

 

NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD REGISTRATION WORKFLOW (AGES 0-5 YEARS

    1. Parents /Guardians present applicants(child) & birth certificate for registration
    2. Parent /Guardian registered with PIN

IF NO

    1. Parents goes through registration process to obtain NID card

IF YES

    1. RO fills applicant’s form with the assistance of Parent
    2. MRW operator enters applicant’s biographical data & scans form and verification document
    3. MRW operator transmits applicant’s data to NIA Data Centre for centralized printing.

HIT

If HIT is YES

    1. Adjudication

IF HIT is NO

    1. Card Printer prints 2D barcode card.
    2. Printed cards are sent to the registration Centre for card collection
    3. Verification/Delivery of NID card by Parent/Guardian

IF Adjudication HIT YES

    1. Registration process stops (further investigation)

IF Adjudication HIT NO

  1. Card printer Prints 2D barcode card
  2. Printed cards are sent to the registration Centre for card collection
  3. Verification /Delivery of NID card BY Parents/Guardian

 

NIA Contact Details  

 

National Identification Authority
No.8 Nelson Mandela Avenue
Off Gulf House Street
South Legon, Accra, Ghana

Digital Address: GA – 237 – 1033

P. O. Box M680
Ministries Post Office
Accra, Ghana

(+233) 302-99-9306 – 9
(+233) 302-73-8333
(+233) 242-43-8615

info@nia.gov.gh